CHAPTER XII.

DEPARTURE OF THE NINTH FROM NEW HAVEN FOR BERMUDA HUNDRED THE COMMAND AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL THE MARCH TO TENNALLYTOWN, D. C. THENCE TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY — THE BATTLES OF WINCHESTER AND FISHER'S HILL REENLISTED VETERANS ORGANIZED INTO THE NINTH BATTALION, COMMANDED BY LIEUT. COL. JOHN G. HEALY.

Serg't Philip Riley, Serg't J.T. Mullen,
Priv. Mus. John E. Healy.

THE NINTH left New Haven for the front, again, July 18, 1864, and was given a cordial farewell. New Haven was aglow with enthusiasm and a great con¬course witnessed the regiment's departure. The com¬mand departed on the steamer Elm City for New York and landed there. It was at first thought to retain the regiment in that city, owing to circumstances, but the command was finally embarked for New Orleans. This order was soon changed, however, and the Ninth was directed to proceed to the James river, where it disem¬barked at Bermuda Hundred, Va., and participated, "with its usual alacrity," in the important movements then taking place.

Gen. Butler, early in May, 1864, had entrenched the larger part of the Army of the James at Bermuda Hun¬dred, at the junction of the James and Appomattox rivers. The object was to co-operate with the Army of the Potomac, which was approaching from the North. Butler's prime consideration, just then, was to prevent Lee receiving re-enforcements from Petersburg, Va., or the South. With this purpose in view, Butler undertook the destruction of the railway between Petersburg and Richmond so as to cut off direct communication between the capital of the Confederacy and the South.

Gen. Gillmore withdrew his forces from before Charles¬ton to join Butler, whereupon Gen. Beauregard hurried

northward to confront and oppose the Army of the James. He reached Petersburg and was quickly re-enforced. Under cover of a dense fog, on the morning of May 16, 1864, he attempted to turn Butler's right flank. After a spirited battle, Butler's troops retired to within their entrenchments. Some days later, Butler was ordered to forward nearly two-thirds of his effective force to the north side of the James river for the purpose of assisting the Army of the Potomac which was then engaged oper¬ating against Lee in northern Virginia. Deprived of so large a part of his troops, Butler was unable, for the time, to make any further aggressive movement. He accord¬ingly expressed himself to the effect that "The necessities of the Army of the Potomac have bottled me up at Ber¬muda Hundred." This sentiment was subsequently used to his disadvantage.

The Ninth, under Col. Cahill, upon reaching Bermuda Hundred, in July, 1864, reported to Gen. W. S. Hancock commanding the Second Corps. Some days later the regiment proceeded to Deep Bottom, Va. In a short time it moved to Washington, D. C. It reported to Gen. C. C. Auger, commanding the Twenty-second Corps. One of the captains of the regiment writing home to Connec¬ticut, under date of Tennallytown, D. C, Aug. 3, 1864, says:

"In the letter which I sent home on the 1st inst., I mentioned that we were in sight of the city of Washing¬ton. Well, we arrived there that evening, and in a few moments received orders to march to the Baltimore depot and there take the cars. All the knapsacks were stored in one of the Government buildings, the officers and men taking with them only what clothing they most needed. We marched through Washington to the depot. On arriving at the latter point, we learned that no cars would be ready for us until near morning. So we were ordered, with other regiments, to an open field where we laid ourselves down. The men had their blankets with

them, but the officers had no such comforts and were obliged to recline on the bare ground.

"We did not expect to have much of a sleep that night, as we expected to be ordered off at any moment. Still, we hoped this would not be and that we would be per¬mitted to remain undisturbed for the night, as we were all tired out, not having changed our clothing since we left New Haven and having had but little sleep. In one hour after we had lain down, however, the order was given to 'Fall in!' without arms.

"'Fall in! Fall in! Fall in!
Every man in his place;
Fall in! Fall in! Fall in!
Each with a cheerful face.
Fall in! Fall in! Fall in! Fall in!'

"We were marched to a large building, called the 'Soldiers' Rest,' where we were treated to plenty of cold ham, hot coffee and fresh bread. The boys ate with a relish. After this, we went back to the camp and again fixed ourselves for a good night's rest. But we were soon disturbed, and ordered to go aboard the cars. These were such as are used to carry horses. We lay down on the hard boards and tried to snatch a brief sleep. Before daylight, we were aroused and ordered to disem¬bark, the train not having started, and be ready to imme¬diately march.

"The line was formed on Pennsylvania Ave., in front of the National Capitol. Our regiment had the right of the line, and the march was soon begun. We soon learned that we were to march to the Tennallytown road and there join other troops on their way against the enemy. After we had marched about seven miles, we were ordered into camp. Our brigade formed in line at 10 o'clock that night and, half an hour later, we started for the front. The Ninth was in excellent spirits, notwith¬standing what it had just been through, and we moved

forward in excellent shape. We marched until 2.30 o'clock the next morning, and by that time we were very tired.

"We were permitted to lie down and were soon fast asleep. The next morning, we commenced pitching our tents, which are nothing but a square piece of canvas for the officers and men; all fare alike. When we awoke that morning, the first thing that attracted our attention was the advance line of our fortifications within a short distance of us. There we were in the front and facing the enemy. The evening previously, a great many of the Ninth went up to the works, and when they came back they informed those who did not go that they had got a glimpse of the enemy. This information prompted a gen¬eral rush of the boys to the place and from there, sure enough, could be seen our pickets and, beyond them, those of the Confederates. Friend and foe were only a short distance apart. In fact, the pickets were near enough to exchange words with each other. I went up to our works yesterday afternoon and, with the naked eye, could easily see the rebel pickets and, with the aid of a glass, could nearly discern their features. I heard their band play last night. There was also great cheering among the Confederates, but we have not yet learned the cause of it.

"I don't know how long we will remain here,—prob¬ably until the rest of our corps arrives from New Orleans. Lieutenants Kennedy, Connors and McKeon, and sev¬eral of the men, who had been left behind, arrived here yesterday. The Sixth and Seventh regiments are close by us, on our right. There is very little firing going on in the daytime, but at night they go in. Last night there was very heavy firing over in the direction of Petersburg. There is also heavy firing in the direction of Fort Dar¬ling on the James river."

Writing, "In the woods, near the Leesburg Turnpike, about 15 miles from Washington, Aug. 14, 1864," the

captain of the Ninth, just quoted, says: "All the troops of the Ninteenth Corps, that were stationed at Tennally-town, struck their tents about 1 o'clock this morning. The air is cool and refreshing, caused by a splendid shower last night. At 3 o'clock this morning, the order was given to march, and we started in the following order: Gen. Grover, and staff, on the right; Gen. Birge, and staff, next; then our brigade and three other brigades in their respective order. Then followed the large train of ambulances, brigade, regimental and supply wagons. Forward we went over the rough roads, our equipments on our backs and three days' rations in our haversacks. We marched up hill and down vale, on the roads and through the woods. At times it was so dark we could see but a very short distance ahead of us. The roads were in bad shape, being covered with small stones. Upon day¬light appearing, we halted for ten minutes, and then started again. At 5 a. m. we crossed the celebrated Chain Bridge, a beautiful structure. Our band played an air while we were crossing. In half an hour after, we passed through 'Fort Marcy.' You will recollect that our regiment is on the right of the line. The weather had now become very warm. We halted for about ten minutes every hour. We did not march over two miles an hour, owing to the condition of the route. During the march, we had to wade through two large streams. A rest was then ordered for the remainder of the day. I had some dry coffee in my haversack and soon had some of the refreshing beverage prepared. Our beds consisted of leaves, with pieces of shelter tents spread over them. Over us, we had another piece of tent, rigged on sticks. My bed was on the edge of a stream. We are to move again at 3 o'clock to-morrow morning."

Writing the next afternoon, the same officer says: "We were up at 2 o'clock this morning and after preparing and taking breakfast, we resumed our march at 3 a. m. We continued until noon when we halted at this place called

'Broad Run/ which is in Virginia. The day is very warm. I have returned from the 'Run' where I had a fine swim and feel much refreshed. I have not heard of any deaths to-day in the division. Yesterday there were three or four, due to the heat."

Under date of "Leesburg, Va., Aug. 18, 1864," the officer writes: "We left camp at 3.30 this morning, and after a tedious march reached the town of Leesburg, Va. It is a beautiful village. The houses are nearly all of brick. As the head of the line reached the village, the bands of the different regiments struck up appropriate airs, and with colors flying, we entered the place. There were a great many people in the streets,—no young men —but some young ladies and many elderly people; also crowds of negroes. The whites did not seem to be pleased with our visit. We saw several girls seated at the windows of their homes but they did not look at us. They are strong secessionists. The Ninth encamped just out¬side the place. I, and several other officers, went to the hotel this evening to get supper. There were several ladies at the table,—all of them well dressed. The hotel management charged us one dollar for a cup of tea or coffee, hot biscuit and johnnycake. After supper we took a walk about the place. It is one of the prettiest villages I have ever been in. The inhabitants are very cheerful. We expect to leave here in the morning."

The Ninth added to its fame, by the part taken by the regiment at Deep Bottom, Va., in July, 1864, and at the battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, who was of Irish parentage, took command of the middle division of the army on Aug. 7, that year. He had three army corps,—the Sixth, Eighth and Nin-teenth, his forces including 10,000 cavalry. Of Connecti¬cut regiments with Sheridan at this time "were the Sec¬ond Artillery, still fighting as infantry in Wright's Sixth corps; the Eighteenth regiment in Crook's Eighth corps, the First Cavalry in Wilson's division, and the Ninth,

Twelfth and Thirteenth regiments, which had arrived from the Department of the Gulf, in the Nineteenth corps." Sheridan established his headquarters at Harper's Ferry. He carefully prepared for a vigorous campaign, and de¬voted a month to getting his forces well in hand. Gen. Early (Confederate), wishing to flank him, attempted to lure him up the Shenandoah Valley, but Sheridan was too sagacious to be drawn into the trap. Instead, he kept the entrance into Maryland vigilantly guarded against Confederate raids and went ahead with his preparations. Gen. Grant -visited Sheridan, Aug. 16, 1864, to consider the situation. The rest of the narrative is thus told :l

"Sheridan was anxious to begin offensive operations. The lieutenant general (Grant) had confidence in him and, after deliberation, left him, with the laconic order, "Go in!" Sheridan and Early then confronted each other at Opequan Creek, a few miles east of Winchester. Sheri¬dan watched his antagonist closely, and when, on Sept. 18, Early weakened his lines by sending half his army on a reconnoissance to Martinsburg (which Averill re¬pulsed), Sheridan put his forces under arms, and, at 3 o'clock in the morning, Sept. 19, they were in motion towards Winchester, Wilson's cavalry leading, followed by Wright's and Emory's corps. Wilson crossed the Opequan at dawn, charging upon and sweeping away all opposers, and securing a place, within two miles of Win¬chester, for the deployment of the army. There they formed, with Wright's corps on the left, flanked by Wil¬son's cavalry, Emory in the centre, and Crook's Kanawha infantry in reserve in the rear. Early had turned back towards Winchester before Sheridan was ready for battle, and strongly posted his men in a fortified position on a series of detached hills. Averill had followed them closely from Bunker's Hill, and he and Merritt enveloped Win¬chester on the east and north with cavalry.

1 In Lossing's Cyclopedia of United States History.

"Between the two armies lay a broken, wooded country. The Nationals attempted to reach Early's vulnerable left wing and centre, and, in so doing, encountered a terrible tempest of shells. They charged Early's centre furiously and carried his first line. His skillful general, Rodes, was killed. The assailing columns were quickly hurled back by two powerful divisions. It seemed, for a moment, as if the Nationals had lost the day. The Con¬federates eagerly sought to seize the only gorge in the mountains through which the Nationals might retreat, if compelled to. This was well defended by a few troops at first. Very soon the Confederates were pushed back to their lines. This was followed by the rapid rallying of the broken columns of the Nationals, and re-forming of their line, which speedily advanced. There was now a most sanguinary battle until 4 o'clock p. m., when a loud shout was heard from beyond the woods on the Union right. It was from Crook's (Eighth) corps * * * which, with Torbert's cavalry, pressed forward in the face of a murderous fire and fell heavily upon Early's left. "At the same time there was a general charge upon the Confederate centre by the infantry, and by Wilson's cav¬alry on Early's right, driving the Confederates to the fortified heights. Before 5 o'clock the latter were carried, and Early's broken columns were flying through Win¬chester and up the valley towards Strasburg in full re¬treat. They left behind them 2,500 of their number as prisoners, with nine battle flags and five pieces of artillery. They were pursued until dark. The Confederates lost about 1,000 men besides the prisoners. Sheridan's loss was about 3,000. Besides the prisoners taken in battle there were about 3,000 wounded left in Winchester. "

As the battle opened, the Ninth was thrown forward as skirmishers and to protect the right flank of the Nine¬teenth corps. The advance videttes of the regiment were the means of having a Confederate battery captured, as

they kept firing at the gunners and thus greatly aided a regiment of the Eighth corps which came up and took the battery. Some members of the Ninth were wounded during the engagement. They included Private Patrick Delaney, of Company F, and Private Augustus S. Smith, of Company 1. The former belonged in Waterbury; and the latter in Plymouth, Ct.

Drum Major Healy, of the Ninth writes: "After the battle of Winchester, I was of a party looking in the woods and ravines for the dead and wounded. I came across an officer's horse with full accoutrements. The horse had been wounded in the fleshy part of the breast, not dangerously. He seemed glad he had been dis¬covered. I brought him into camp, doctored up his wound and used him to carry the personal effects of my drum corps and also for foraging. One afternoon I, with six others, while near Harrisburg, Va., in the Shenan¬doah Valley, drove about nine miles, looking for food, to a deserted farm with plenty of goats, pigs, potatoes and apples. I got a pot of apple butter, a bag of apples and potatoes and half a hog and had them tied to the pomel of my saddle when Mosby's guerrillas were seen in the distance on a run for us. It was certain death from the enemy to any one caught foraging. I started my horse on a run towards camp, but they were firing at me and were gaining. I cut loose all my bags and that wounded horse fairly flew and saved me. George Lyon was caught. He had a $10 greenback in his pocket. He put it in his shoe and they did not find it. He had to walk to Rich¬mond. When he got there the greenback was nothing but pulp."

It used to be humorously declared that the boys from Connecticut, on their march through Virginia, could chase a fat porker, kill him, cut him up, and put him in their haversacks, without losing step. While the Ninth was thus on the march, by way of

Leesburg and Snicker's Gap, to Berryville to join Sheri¬dan, a musician of the regiment died of sunstroke. In his delirium he had wandered into a field. The surgeon ex¬amined him and reported that there was no hope. Says

Pencil Sketch By A Soldier Of The Ninth.

a member of the Ninth: "The night we crossed Snicker's Gap we had already been on the march since 1 o'clock the night previous. Tired, hungry, barefooted, it seemed as though we should never hear the welcome order 'Halt!' Among the sick in ambulances were Surgeon

Gallagher and two other surgeons. The roads were in fearful condition. After joining Sheridan, Aug. 17, 1864. a week or so was spent by the Ninth in skirmishing, forti¬fying, changing position, etc. One night we moved hur¬riedly to Halltown, near Harper's Ferry—a few days there—then back again to Berryville. On the morning of Sept. 19, the army was in motion and before daylight we of the Ninth could hear the boom of the cannon in the distance. At 9.30 a. m., we left the road and moved to the right under cover of the hills. The shells were now screaming over us, and the rattle of musketry came to us directly from our left. We hurriedly formed in line of battle, pushed through the dense woods and in a few moments were in the roar of the conflict. At nightfall, after the defeat of the enemy, we marched over the field and bivouacked at Winchester. We continued the pur¬suit through the day and in the evening took up a posi¬tion on the extreme left of our army. That evening, the Ninth made a reconnoissance. The next day, we were ordered to hold a ford at the foot of a mountain still further to the left. Crossing the railroad, the Ninth moved through an open field to the river several hundred yards distant. Two of our companies forded the stream, the rest forming along a fence on the bank. In a short time, we heard the 'Rebel yell' and a brigade swept down from the heights upon our boys who fell back under a terrible fire. The water of the river seemed to fairly boil with the splash of the bullets, Amid the confusion, eight companies of the Ninth fell back to the railroad, leaving the Colonel and two companies near the river, the enemy being in such proximity that retreat was impossible. Sharp firing was kept up all day, without much damage being done on either side. The rebels not knowing our weakness failed to cross and attack us. Our loss was two killed and five wounded. Under cover of the darkness we fell back to the main body, but in the morning re¬turned to our old position in time for the battle of Fisher's Hill, Va." 13

Driven from Winchester, Early and his forces did not halt until they reached Fisher's Hill, the point just men¬tioned. This was beyond Strasburg and 20 miles from the Winchester battlefield. Fisher's Hill was strongly fortified. Sheridan had sent a despatch to the Secretary of War, stating that "We have just sent the enemy whirling through Winchester, and are after them to¬morrow." And he kept his word. On Sept. 22, 1864, he appeared before Fisher's Hill where the Confederates under Early were entrenched. Sheridan ordered Crook's corps to gain the rear of the Confederate position, and with Wright's and Emory's corps advanced to the attack of the left and front. The assault was vigorously made and, notwithstanding a vigorous resistance, the Confed¬erates were driven in great disorder up the valley, leaving behind over 1,000 prisoners and sixteen pieces of artillery. Sheridan pursued to Port Republic where he destroyed a Confederate train of 75 wagons. His cavalry continued the pursuit to Staunton, where Early had found shelter in the passes of the Blue Ridge. The Union cavalry de¬stroyed a great amount of stores at Staunton, and then proceeded to Waynesborough and visited destruction upon the Virginia Central railroad. Sheridan's army then moved down the Shenandoah valley, inflicting great, but necessary, damage and leaving nothing that would "invite the enemy to return."

The Ninth's term of service as a regiment being about to expire, measures were taken to organize those who had reenlisted, into a battalion. The following was issued:

HEADQUARTERS, NINETEENTH ARMY CORPS, NEAR CEDAR CREEK, VA.,
October 12, 1864. Special Orders No. 59.
(Extract):
Pursuant to Special Orders No. 53, Ex. 3, Headquarters Middle Military Division, the recruits and re-enlisted

Battle at Opequan Creek, (Winchester), VA., Sept. 19, 1864.

men of the Ninth Connecticut Volunteers will be consolidated into a Battalion of four companies to be com¬manded by senior Captain.

The companies will be designated respectively as A, B, C, D, and the following will be the assignment of officers retained by Special Orders No. 53, Headquarters Middle Military Division:

Captain, John G. Healy.
First Lieutenant, G. T. Scott.
Second Lieutenant, Thomas Connors.

Captain, T. Sheridan.
First Lieutenant, M. Mullins.
Second Lieutenant, C. Streit.

Captain, W. A. Lee.
First Lieutenant, D. C. Warner.
Second Lieutenant, J. H. Lincoln.

First Lieutenant, J. W. Graham.
Second Lieutenant, to be selected.

The men will be assigned as follows: 98 men to Company A, 98 men to Company B, 98 men to Company C, and 90 men to Company D, to be assigned by senior officer.

The Non-Commissioned Staff will be retained.

By order of Brevet Major-General EMORY,
DUNCAN L. WALKER, A. A. G.

Under command of Captain Healy, the Ninth Battalion, thus organized, bore a very conspicuous part in the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, its flag being the first planted on the recaptured works of the enemy. In this desperate action the Ninth lost thirty men in killed and wounded.

Col. Cahill, Lieut. Col. Fitz Gibbon, Major Frye, Adjutant Kattenstroth, Quartermaster Fitz Gibbon, Surgeon Gallagher and other officers of the regiment were honorably discharged Oct. 26, 1864, their term of service having expired.